Lebanon detectives subpoenaed for Schirmer trial in Monroe

Several sets of eyes from Lebanon County will be on the murder trial of former pastor Arthur “A.B.” Schirmer taking place this week in Monroe County.

Lebanon County detectives John Leahy and Dominic Visconti have been subpoenaed by Schirmer’s defense, according to District Attorney Dave Arnold. However, Arnold said, he does not know if Schirmer intends to call them to the stand.

“I don’t believe anyone’s contacted them other than just sending the subpoena saying we might call you as a witness,” he said.

Schirmer, 64, has been charged with killing both of his wives - Jewel, in Lebanon County in 1999 and Betty Jean, in Monroe County in 2008.

He maintains his innocence in both cases.

Arnold declined to speculate about what questions Schirmer’s defense might ask the Lebanon County detectives during the Monroe County trial.

“I know that evidence of Jewel’s death is going to be presented, so perhaps it relates to that but, I don’t know for sure,” he said

Arnold said the he may try to attend the trial, himself, if he can make it. He said he would like to hear the testimony of forensic pathologist Wayne Ross, who is scheduled to testify.

“I don’t know what his role is in Monroe County, but he did the examination in Lebanon County,” Arnold said of Ross.

Jury selection began Monday in Monroe County. Authorities there alleged that Schirmer killed Betty Jean Schirmer, then staged a car accident to cover it up.

He is facing one “open” count of criminal homicide and one count of tampering with/fabricating physical evidence. The prosecution is not seeking the death penalty should Schirmer be convicted, according to the Pocono Record.

Last month, Lebanon County District Judge Kim Wolfe ordered Schirmer to stand trial here on charges that he killed Jewel Schirmer, his first wife.

Jewel Schirmer died at the Hershey Medical Center on April 24, 1999, a day after suffering what doctors called a traumatic brain injury. Arthur Schirmer told police he found his wife at the bottom of the basement stairs of their North Lebanon Township home when he came home from jogging.

At the time, Schirmer was pastor at Bethany United Methodist Church on North Hanover Street in Lebanon. He was the pastor there for 22 years prior to moving to Monroe County in 2001.

Initially, Schirmer was not charged in either wife’s death. The investigation into Betty Jean’s death was reopened after a man committed suicide in Schirmer’s office at Reeders United Methodist Church. Authorities said Schirmer was having an affair with the man’s wife, who was Schirmer’s administrative assistant.

Arnold reopened the investigation into Jewel Schirmer’s death after Schirmer was charged with Betty Jean’s murder in September 2010.

Arnold said observing the Monroe County proceedings could be beneficial for Schirmer’s Lebanon County trial, which is currently scheduled to begin on March 4.